What uses might you suggest that focus on 21st century skills and higher level thinking?

Any time you can get students to analyze, synthesize, or justify their thinking you are making them use higher levels of thinking.  Using the blog provides students with the opportunity to collaborate with each other and communicate their thinking to each other while using technology which is what 21^st century skills revolve around.    

I could really see myself using blogs in place of weekly journaling.  In the past, students would make a journal and then I would give them a weekly journal prompt.  Sometimes it would just be a silly one like “what geometrical shape best describes your personality and why?”.  Others take something we have learned in class and have them analyze it, for example “describe the method for solving systems of equations that you like best and state why you like it”.  The best part is that students would be able to see what others stated and comment on their posts.  It is like taking some of those great discussions that we have in the classroom and moving it to a level where students are not just communicating with me, but with EACH OTHER!

For what uses do you see teachers and/or the LMS using blogs in your school in the near future?

Blogs seem to me as an open journal, but with more room for discussions (almost a discussion forum).  Quite honestly the only thing I knew about blogs was from the movie Julie and Julia so my knowledge is limited.  Just from the few blog searches I did last week I see that blogs could be an excellent way for teachers to communicate and collaborate about their lessons or teaching methods.  I teach in a small district in which there are only two other math teachers in my department and I am basically the only teacher for the 4 subjects I teach.  I would be great to connect with some surrounding schools (especially ones with the same demographics as mine) so that I could share ideas, bounce off ideas, and get advice for some topics.  Realistically though, I just feel like teachers have so much on their plate that they wouldn’t be willing to try this out (even though I think it would eventually make their lives easier).   

I also think that as a tool for the classroom I could use blogs as a place for my students to discuss the mathematics they are learning.  The cool part about blogs is that they could allow students to discuss topics on their own terms and on their own time.  They don’t have the pressure of having to come up with their reasoning on the spot or before the bell rings.  I can really see my upper level kids going crazy with this; however, my lower level would need some guidance and prompting to get them used to the idea (which is exactly the types of skills that those kids should be strengthening). 

My Blog Search

I have never been really good at searching anything.  I always start to get overwhelmed and feel like I get lost in the vast amounts of "stuff" out there!  I sometimes wonder if anyone has ever turned up missing after getting lost during their search--maybe they could make a GPS for people like me that tend to get lost in their searches.  I was surprised though, with this search--I actually found something that I really like after looking at two things! (Call off the search party for me today!)

The first one that I have found is called The Education Technology Blog and is a blog that not only talks about practical ways to integrate technology into the classroom but also provides links to resources that we can use!  How great is that?!? 

http://www.educationtechnologyblog.com/

The second one that I have found is called The Intersection of Pop Culture and Mathematics and is a blog that blends everyday mathematics with popular culture that engages students.  Once again, I love that this gives practical ways to integrate technology into the mathematics classroom.

 http://popmatics.wordpress.com/

Ok, I have to admit after digging deeper into this blog I found that after a couple of site transfers this site really isn't the greatest.  Basically it directs you to a site in which you have to purchase the math program and here I thought I hit the jackpot for a truly great "free" resource.  Bummer!

What do you want to get out of this course?

I am a mathematics teacher and am really trying to integrate technology beyond just calculators and a SmartBoard.  I know that to reach my learners today I need to start reaching them through 21st century approaches.  I really would love to find was that I can use the communication and collaboration web tools as a way to get my student to start "talking" about the mathematics they are learning in class.